Conveyer



June 12, 1923. 1,458,435

w. H. ONION CONVEYEH Filed June 22, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet if Q1 H G WITNESSES l/VVEMTUR Q@ I N WHO/won;

ATTORNEYS June 12, 1923.

w. H. :IONION CON VEYER Filed June 22 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmgmron y: O/v/0A WITNESSES 6. A 7TORNEY8 Patented June 12, 1923.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM HOWELL ONION, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

CONVEYER.

Application filed June 22,

efficiency, which is comparatively inexpen sive to install, which is durable and consisting of few numbered parts and Which is adapted to operate in a smooth manner for transporting articles, and with a minimum amount of friction of the movable parts.

Other objects and objects relating to details of construction will hereinafter appear in the detailed description to follow.

The invention is illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure .1 is a top plan view of the conveyer unit constructed in .accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view-in side elevation of'the same, taken with the supporting frame partially excluded.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View of the conveyer unit.

Figure 4: is a detailed view in elevation illustrating the manner in which the sup porting cross bars are securedto the'belt.

Figure 5 is a group view illustrating the elements employed for securing the belt to each of the cross bars,'and

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view further-illustrating the manner ofsecuringthe belt to the different cross bars.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, F indicates generally a supporting frame which consists in the two side walls \V properly supported by the posts or legs 10. The sidewalls are tied together by cross members 11 andby the diagonal members 12, said members 12 being secured to angle irons 13 which are carried by the side walls The frame as a whole is rigid and the same may correspond to the dictates of'the manufacturer, that is, no specific construction' is required.

1922. Serial No. 570,154.

At each end of the frame there is supported between the side walls W a drum or roller D, said drums in each instance being suitably supported by a rotatable shaft 14 and being of the diameter illustrated in Figure 2. Each drum has its periphery formed with a plurality of radial grooves or recesses 22, said recesses extending the en tire length of the drum and for a purpose which will later be described. Over the drums D there passes belt B which shouldbe made of flexible material such as leather or the like and which need not be of the thickness usually employed in'a conveyer of this type due to the peculiar construction of the conveyer as will later appear.

For supporting the load on the belt B there is provided a plurality of cross members or axles A, each cross member or ax'le consisting in a horizontal offset portion 14 and the two angular end portions 15. each of which terminates in a spindle 16. Upon each spindle 16 vthere is journaled a roller B, said roller. in each instance having a flange formed upon its inner edgeas at 17.

To each side wall W there is-secured an upper track section T and a lower track section T. Each section is L-shaped in cross section and secured to the associated wall TV so that the portion 20 thereof will be disposed in a horizontal plane and adapted to serve as a track for the associated roller R. The upper track section T in each instance terminates at each end in a semi-circular portion 21 and-each semi-circular portion terminates at a point directly above the similar end ofthe associated'track section T as at 22 (Figure 2). The track section T in each instance is substantially straight with the exception that its one end terminates in a downwardly curved portion 23. The space existing between the terminals of thetrack sections T and T in each instance is suflicient to permit the passage of the rollers The belt B is preferably secured .to the cross members A 'in such a manner that the belt will lie upon the :upper surface of these cross members as illustrated in Figure 3, thatis the portion of the'beltcarryin'g the load will so lie'while the portion of the belt disposed below the load will bulge downwardly'and away from the cross sup-' ports A as likewise illustrated in Figure 3. The belt is secured to each cross support at a point adjacent each of its longitudinal edges. One edge of the belt is permanently secured to the cross supports A by bolts or the like as indicated at 2%; the other edge, however, is adjustably secured, that is the secured means permit adjustable transverse tensioning of the belt. F or making these last named connections between the belt and the cross member A there is provided in each instance a bolt 25 which extends through an elongated slot 26 in the associated'cross member A and which also extends through the belt B.

The bolt 25 carries a nut 27 on its one end and also .carries a washer 28 adapted to prevent its head from passing through the slot 26. Upon the inner side of the belt B there is positioned a plate 29 having teethBO p10 ject-ing inwardly of the belt and provided withan opening for receiving the bolt 25. Alsohtor the upper side of the belt there is provided a similar plate member 31 through which the bolt 25 extends. The plate 31 is provided with teeth similar to the teeth on the plate 29, as at 31 and is preferably of greater dimensions than the, plate 29. The bolt 25 within slot 26 is enlarged as at 25 to provide a shoulder against which the plate clip 29 may. abut. Asis obvious the bolt 25 in each instance has free sliding movement within the slot 26.

The shaft 14: of one of the drums D has its one-end extended throughthe associated side wall W of the'frame F andthis extended portion of the shaft has secured thereto a cog wheel 32. From the same side wall there is extended a stud shaft carrying a cog wheel 33 and a fly wheel 34, the cog wheel 33 being in constant mesh with the cog wheel 32/ Upon the same side wall there is also mounted a pass plate 35 to which there'is secured a cylinder C, said cylinder having a piston P from which there extends the piston rod P, said rod passing through a suit-' able stationary guide member G. The piston I is connected to the fly wheel 34: through the crank rod K. Any suitable motive power such as steam, electricity or compressed air may be utilized for driving the piston P- and thus in turn to rotate the drum D associated with the cog wheel 32.

' The operation of the present conveyor is asfollows:

Articles or material to be transported or moved are deposited upon the belt B in the usual manner. Any suitable means for placing the material or articles upon the belt B may of course be utilized. Upon starting the motive means described the belt B will be caused to move preferably in the direction of the arrow shownin Figure 1 in the drawings. The rollers R upon'the track sections T will move thereover and serve to support the entire weight of the load. The

function of the drums D will be merely to cause the belt to move and thus reducing the friction between the drums D and belt B to a minimum whereby to increase the life of the belt. The cross supports A together with the rollers R receive the load upon the belt B and these cross supports should be provided in sufiicient numbers so that no sagging of the belt would occur. The rollers R are free to pass from the upper track sections T to the lower track sections T in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings and the cross members A when passing over the drums D may extend into the recesses 22 in said drums.

the track sections. Also due to the belt being supported by these rollers and cross bars at all times the same travels smoothly and every danger of dislodging of the load being carried is obviated.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred form of my invention I wish it to be understood that I am aware of the fact that the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be changed by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is: I

1. In combination, a pair of rollers, an endless belt passing thereover and adapted to move with the rotation of said rollers, a plurality of cross members, each cross member having a central oifset, said members being disposed upon the inner side of the belt, means "for securing said belt along its longitudinal edges to said cross members, and means for supporting said cross members whereby they may move with said belt.

2. In combination, a pair of rollers, an endless belt passing thereover and adapted to move with the rotation of said rollers, a plurality of cross members, each cross memberhaving a central ofl'set, said members being disposed upon the inner side of the belt means for securing said belt along its longitudinal edges to said cross members, means for supporting said cross members whereby they may move with said belt, and power means for rotating one of said rollers.

3. In combination, a pair ofrollers, an endless belt passing thereover and adapted to move with the rotation of said rollers, a plurality of cross members, each cross member. having a central oilset, said members being disposed upon the inner side of the belt, means for securing said belt along its longitudinal edges to said cross members, means for. supporting said cross members whereby they may move with said belt, and adjustable means whereby the belt may be tensioned transversely upon said cross members.

at. In a device of the character described, a belt, an axle, a roller carried upon each end of the axle, tracks for supporting said rollers, said axle having an intermediate offset portion, and means for securing each edge of the belt to the ends of said axle.

In a device of the characterdescribed, a belt, an axle, a roller carried upon each end of the axle, tracks for supporting said rollers, said axle having an intermediate ofiset portion, and adjustable means whereby the belt may be tensioned with relation to the axle.

6. In a device of the character described, a

belt, a cross member for said belt having an offset intermediate portion, roller means for supporting the ends of said cross member,

means whereby the one edge of said belt may be rigidly secured to the cross member, and means for loosely securing the other edge of said belt, to the, other end offsaid cross member.

7 In a dev ce of the character described,

a a belt, a cross member for said belt having an ofl'set intermediate portion, roller means for supporting the ends of said cross mem- WILLIAM HOWELL ONION; 

